Seat cover fastening means



p ,1951 J. H. JOHNSON 2,563,393

' SEAT COVER FASTENING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1949 3nvento: JAMES H. JOHNSON (Ittorneg Patented Sept. 18, 1951 James H. Johnson, Alpena-, .Mich., assignor to Fraser ProductsCompany, Alpena, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application, February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,038v

1 invention relates in general to means for securing seat covers upon automobile seatp ishions which means make said seat covers easy to fit and. install, and extremely flexible in use.

The presently known means for securing seat covers to automobile seat cushions, particularly the removable type of. cushions, have not proven satisfactory for at least two important. reasons. In the first place, the installation of seat, or cushion, covers with present securingmeans is difficult andv slow, therebyincreasing. substantially the total cost of the installed covers. Often, in order properly toposition a cushion cover upon a cushion, it is necessary to adjust or remove completely the cover several times during. the installation thereof, because the securing means permits little or no flexibility in movement of the cover after the installation. with respect to that part, such as. the frame of. theseat, upon which the said securing means is anchored. In present practice, the cover manufacturing. companies prepare elaborate drawings showing preferred manner of installation and send field-representatives to call on dealers and. instruct them in the proper and best methods of making installations. However, even these precautions do not eliminate the expense and rigidity of present types of installations. I Further, by reason. of this samelack in flex:- ibility, the second.v major objection to. said present securing, means arises. It has alwaysbeen desirable, but never completely attainable, to install cushion covers so. that a depression of the cushion cover, hence the cushion, at onepoint thereon wouldnot create wrinklesin or distortion of the cover in other portions thereof. This problem. has been. especially acute where the cushion is depressed by a heavyperson and this problem has been especially noticeable where the bottom of the frame, or thebase supporting. the cushion,v is irregularv in shape. Such, irregularities in shape have defied the successful use of any presently known securing means toattach flexibly a seat cover. to the frame of the seat. In fine covers,. carefully tailor-ed to fit a given type of seat, this problem has. ,beenespeciallybaflling. since. the, very care in tailoring accentuated the wrinkling and stretching. which occurredin normalusel Therefore the, needhas become. apparent for an. improved. securing. means-which willv substantially decreaseithe time required todnsta-llautomobile cushion covers, and which at;.,the.- same time. will. permit substantial fle zions ofthe seat cover witlrrespect tovtheirameofi-theseatv At:

its final cost.

2 ciaim's. (01. -182) 2 tempts in this direction occurring to date have dealt with one phase or the other of this problem but none to :my knowledge have solved both.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of means for securing seat covers to automobile cushions whereby the time required to install said cushion covers may be materially reduced. i

A further object of this invention is the provision of securing means, as aforesaid, permitting substantial movement of said cover with respect to the seat frame, whereby said seat covers will automatically tend to cling to the contour of the seat cushion when uneven loads are placed thereon, even though only moderate care is ob* served in the installation of the covers.

A further object of this invention is theprovision of securing means, as aforesaid, which can be used completely effectively in spite of irregularities either in the bottom of the cushion frame or the cushion support base.

A further object of the invention is to provide means which will improve the flexibility of the installed cover while at the same time reducing Other objects and purposes of this invention: will become apparent to persons familiar with; this type of equipment upon referring to the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following specification.

I have solved these difiiculties and have attained the objects and purposes above mentioned, as well as others incidental thereto and associated therewith, by an extremely simple construction. Such construction slightly increases the cost of the cover to the dealer but it. so reduces the in stallation cost that the finalcost to the user may be materially lowered. My invention comprises first the provision of a plurality of spaced metal grommets along the lower edge of the skirt of the cushion cover. 'I' then provide a plurality of resilient fasteners, each comprised of a pair of hooks slidably secured to an elastic ring, of which one hook is inserted through one of said grommets and the other hook thereof is anchored on the bottom of the seat cushion frame at any convenient point. I V

For illustrations of a preferred embodiment of the invention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l isan oblique View of an-inverted' seat cushion. upon which a cover has beensecured with the resilient fastening means to which this invention relates. I

Eng 1 6 2 1539: top: plan view of. analternate 3 seat cushion showing a different application of my resilient fasteners.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged view of a portion of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged view of Figure 1 showing a single, complete resilient fastener.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a portion of an alternate seat cushion structure including my resilient fastener, said seat cushion being shown in inverted position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a cushion cover with an'alternative form of my means for securing said cover to the cushion frame.

Construction One preferred embodiment of the fastening means in (Figures 4 and 5), to which this invention relates, is comprised of a pair of hooked links H and I2, hereinafter for convenience referred to frequently as cover link and frame link, respectively, removably and slidably supported upon a single elastic ring I3.

In said preferred embodiment the hooked links II and I2 are substantially identical in shape and are fabricated from wire of appropriate gauge and strength. It has been found as result of considerable experimentation that galvanized steel wire ranging in gauge from 14 to 20 gauge, inclusive, is satisfactory and that 18 gauge wire is preferable. It has also been found that, although the length of the links may range from K; to 1 inch, they are preferably about 1 inch long. Each link is comprised of a link shank M with hooks l5 and I6 at opposite ends thereof. The hook [5 of the link [2 defines a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the hook l6, and the said shank l4 preferably lies within both of said planes. Accordingly, the hook l5a. of the link H defines a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the hook Mia, and the shank Ma lies substantially within both of said latter planes. This relative positioning of the hooks permit the rubber ring l3 to lie flat against the seat cushion bottom. This gives the fastening means Ill a maximum of freedom from binding against parts of the seat bottom or seat support 39, which is particularly desirable where the said ring is required to lie on a curve, such as shown in Figure 6, or as would be the case if the hooks were fastened to the irregular part of the seat bottom shown in Figure 3. Although, as hereinafter mentioned in more detail, each of the hooks are pinched closely enough together at their ends that they will not shake out of position, the tips 19 of the hooks are preferably flared for ease in inserting said hooks into place.

The elastic ring I3 is preferably, but not necessarily, made from rubber treated with an aging material of a conventional type well known in the rubber industry, which aging material causes said ring to retain its elasticity, even when held stretched up to one hundred and fifty per cent of its normal length, for as much as two years. The cross-sectional dimension of the elastic ring will be governed by the force which said ring is intended to impose when under tension. In this particular embodiment of the invention the elastic ring is two inches long and made from material /8 inch thick and inch wide. Its resiliency is such that at one hundred per cent elongation it will exert a total force of five pounds, or, in other words, at such elongation each band will 4 exert a force of about pounds per square inch.

The hooks l5 and [5a, which in this particular case removably engage the elastic ring I3, are preferably so curved that their tips I9 and l9a, respectively, are spaced from their respective shanks l4 and [4a a distance materially less than the width of the elastic ring l3, thereby preventing accidental disengagement of the said hooks l5 and 15a therefrom when'the fastening means are subjected to a sudden jolt or shock either before or after installation onto a seat cover.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the seat cover I! (Figure 5) is provided with a plurality'of grommets 2| which may be made of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material, said grommets being positioned along the lower free edges of the skirts 22 of the seat cover II. The said grommets 2| are preferably, but not necessarily, substantially evenly spaced along and adjacent the edges of said seat cover skirts 22 for engagement by one hook, here the hook lGa of each link I I.

These grommets, in a preferred embodiment, are placed about 8 inches apart, but this spacing may vary from about 5 inches to about 10 inches under normal conditions. It is essential, however, that the force exerted by each of the fasteners be maintained relatively light and that there be a relatively large number thereof. Hence, the exact strength and number of fasteners may vary freely, so long as such variance is not materially away from the combination of a flexible edge, a large number of grommets, and a fastener associated with each grommet exerting only a light force, without departing from the scope of this invention.

The tip l9a (Figure 5) of said hook l6a on each frame link I2 is preferably spaced from the shank [4a thereof, so that a moderate force must be exerted to effect a disengagement of said hook Ilia from the frame element 24. Thus, ordinary movements of the seat cover I1, either before or after installation, will not produce disengagement of said frame link l2 from the seat frame during normal operation. The tip 20 (Figures 4 and 5) of the hook l6 on the cover link H is preferably spaced from the shank l4 so that a moderate positive force must be exerted to effect a disengagement of said hook I 6 from the seat cover I! for reasons mentioned above.

If appropriate frame elements 24 engageable by said hooks l6 are not provided on the bottom of the seat cushion, such as the cushions l8a, an anchor rod 26 (Figures 2, 3 and 4) may be welded or otherwise secured to such frame elements 24a as may exist. The hook l6 of each fastening means In may then be anchored upon said anchor rod 26 (Figure 2).

Inasmuch as the seat cushions [8, 18a and lb are intended to be of conventional types, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted from this application. However, it will be noted that the seat cushion I8a (Figure 2) differs from the seat cushion I 8 and 18b (Figures 1 and 6), by virtue of the long riser 2'! on seat cushion I8 and the short riser 28 on seat cushion I812. The seat cushions |8a and l8b differ from the cushion [8 in that they require an anchor rod 26 upon which said hooks I6 may be anchored. Such anchor rod may be welded, or otherwise fastened in any conventional manner, to the seat cushion frame in any position convenient for receiving the respective fastening hooks.

The alternate fastening means 3| may be com: prised of a folded elastic-strip 32, the extremities of which are brought together and secured directly to the edge of a seat cover 33 by means of rivets 34, or other suitable means, thereby creating a loop portion 35 engageable by the hook 36 at one end of a hooked link 3'1. A hook 38 at the other end of the hooked link 31 may be engaged with a frame element, such as the frame element 24 on the bottom of the seat cushion 18, as described above. The hooked link 31 may be similar in all respects to the hooked link l2.

Operation and installation The fastening means 10 are preferably already supported upon the seat cover skirts 22 by means of the cover links H, as described above, before the installation of the seat cover I! onto a seat. When the seat cover I! is installed upon a seat cushion, such as the cushion l8 (Figure 1),'the frame links [2 are caused to engage the frame elements 24 on the bottom of the seat cushion l8, and the installation is complete. If the seat cushion has a long riser 21, the skirt of the cover along the front of the cushion is folded over the lower edge of said riser and the fastening means I0 holds said skirt in the desired position. If the riser is short, such as the riser 28 on the cushion i8b (Figure 6), the fastening means in can be used equally effectively, even though the short riser 28 extends below and overlaps the base 39 supporting the cushion. The fastening means I!) curves around the cushion support base 39 and permits complete freedom of movement of the seat cover with respect to the frame element 24 or anchor rod 26 upon which said fastening means is anchored.

' Normally, the order of installation steps will preferably be: first, to engage the hooks at the front of the seat, second, to engage the hooks at the back of the seat, and last, to engage the hooks at the sides of the seat. This, however, is only illustrative and places no limitation onto my invention.

It will be seen that the fastening means I0 permits rapid yet complete and satisfactory installation of tailored seat covers. Yet, such installation of the seat covers is not considered permanent in the same sense of the word as are present types of seat covers as presently installed. This gives rise to the possibility that unupholstered seat cushions may be installed in new automobiles ill! hair, not only damage the appearance of the upholstering but also create ideal conditions for moths.

Although the above mentioned drawings and description apply to one particular, preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not my intention, implied or otherwise, to eliminate other variations or modifications which do not depart from the scope of the invention unless specifically stated to the contrary in the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. In means for securing a seat cover with a skirt upon an upholstered, automobile seat cushion, said cushion having a metal frame including a plurality of intersecting, substantially horizontal frame elements across the bottom thereof, the combination comprising: a plurality, of spaced grommets through and along the free edge of the skirt of said seat cover, said grommets being spaced apart from each other about eight inches; and a plurality of resilient fasteners each comprised of an elastic, rubber ring expansible to about 150% of its normal length when placed under a strain of about 130 pounds per square inch of cross-sectional area, a cover link having materially perpendicularly disposed hooks at opposite ends thereof, one hook being removably engageable with one of said grommets and the other hook being removably and slidably engageable with said elastic ring, and a frame link having mutually perpendicularly disposed hooks at opposite ends thereof, one hook being removably and slidably engageable with said elastic ring and the other hook being removably engageable with one of said frame elements; whereby said seat cover is constantly urged to cling to said seat cushion but is permitted substantial movement with respect to said frame element.

2. In a means for securing a seat cover to a seat cushion, said means comprising: an elastic, rubber ring; a cover link having perpendicularly disposed hooks at opposite ends thereof, one of said hooks of said cover link removably and slidably engageable with said ring; a frame link having perpendicularly disposed hooks at opposite ends thereof, one of said hooks of said frame link removably and slidably engageable with said ring.

JAMES H. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,492,993 Lasecki May 6, 1924 1,897,521 Legarde Feb. 14, 1933 2,180,690 Monroe Nov. 21, 1939 

